David Bailey QC specialises in all aspects of commercial law. High profile commercial cases in which he has recently appeared include leading for the successful appellants in the Supreme Court in The Alexandros T, acting for Lloyds Bank in relation to PPI, and the West Tankers litigation. Much of David’s practice is in arbitration.
David’s experience extends across a wide range of commercial sectors including shipbuilding, aviation, charterparties, the carriage of goods, banking, sale and distribution contracts and insurance and reinsurance. David was named Insurance and Reinsurance Silk of the Year in the 2014 Acquisition International Awards. David has written the chapters on jurisdiction and arbitration in Mance et al. Insurance Disputes (3rd edition 2011) and regularly lectures on insurance, reinsurance and jurisdictional issues. David has also given expert evidence on English law for use in foreign proceedings, appears at mediations and accepts appointments as an arbitrator in commercial cases.
David has acted in three cases that resulted in references to the European Court of Justice and in numerous jurisdiction disputes concerning reinsurance placed in the London market.
David is recommended as a leading silk in the fields of shipping, insurance and reinsurance, and international arbitration.
David Bailey was born in 1965 and educated at Oundle. He read law at Oxford University, where he was awarded a First Class Honours Degree and the Eldon Scholarship, and at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he was awarded a Tuition Fellowship and obtained his Masters Degree in law BA (Oxon), First Class Honours Degree in Jurisprudence. LLM, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).Eldon Law Scholarship, Oxford University (1990). Tuition Fellowship; UCLA (1987). Entrance Award and Senior Holker Scholarship; Gray’s Inn (1987 & 1989)
David Bailey QC is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is also the Chairman of English Sinfonia, a trustee of the Menat Trust and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is also a former member of the Great Britain Shooting Team.
David was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1989 (where he was awarded an Entrance Award and, later, a Senior Holker Scholarship) and became a member of chambers on completion of his pupillage. He has since practised full-time as a barrister at 7 King’s Bench Walk. He took Silk, in the first year of its reintroduction, in 2006.
Enka v Chubb: Supreme Court confirms the proper approach to determining the governing law of an arbitration agreement
ENKA v Chubb: Supreme Court grants permission to appeal and a stay of execution
7KBW team defend Chubb Group against anti-suit injunction: English Courts not the appropriate forum to determine whether Russian proceedings were brought in breach of London arbitration agreement
The Legal 500 UK Awards 2020 nominations
‘Subject to contract’ and ‘subject to board approval’: Judge confirms no binding settlement agreement in arbitration dispute
"David is a genius" "A thorough and engaging advocate."
Chambers & Partners 2020